India reports biggest one-day virus spike as lockdown eased
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India recorded its biggest single-day spike in coronavirus cases on Monday as the government eased one of the world's strictest lockdowns to allow some manufacturing and agricultural activity to resume.
An additional 1,553 cases were reported over 24 hours, raising the national total past 17,000.
At least 543 people have died from Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, and epidemiologists forecast the peak may not be reached before June.
The shelter-in-place orders imposed in India on March 24 halted all but essential services. Starting Monday, limited industry and farming were allowed to resume where employers could meet social distancing and hygiene norms, and migrant workers can travel within states to factories, farms and other work sites.
Read: In Modi's India, virus fallout inflames divisions between Muslims and Hindus
In the event a group of migrants wish to return to their places of work within the state where they are presently located, they would be screened and those who are asymptomatic would be transported to their respective places of work, India's home ministry said in a letter to state governments.
However, government surveys in the central Indian state of Maharashtra, the worst-hit by the virus, have suggested few companies eligible to restart operations can do so because they are required to transport and shelter workers as a virus-prevention measure.
The loosening of restrictions comes as India continues to ramp up testing, build up stocks of ventilators and personal protective equipment and prepare makeshift isolation wards and dedicated Covid-19 hospitals.
In Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra and home to Asia's largest slum, city authorities were planning to administer hydroxycloroquine to thousands of slum dwellers over 14 days to gauge whether the drug helped to slow the spread of the disease in a place where social distancing norms aren't possible to achieve.
It was unclear how many people would participate in the experiment, or when it would begin.
President Donald Trump has touted the malaria drug to treat Covid-19, though its efficacy against the disease is unproven.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (133) Closed
Apr 20, 2020 12:07pm
Lock down is being relaxed in Green zones not in Designated Red zones. My Hometown Agra is under siege due to ignorance and stupidity of Tableegi jamaat. They were the mass spreader.
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Apr 20, 2020 12:13pm
Lockdown is eased only in different, manufacturing sectors.
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Apr 20, 2020 12:13pm
The sudden spike in confirmed corona cases is due to wide spread usage of Rapid test kits since yesterday. This my be the trend for afew days, after that steep fall is expected,
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Apr 20, 2020 12:16pm
Stage 3 of the pandemic. Lockdown has to extended.
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Apr 20, 2020 12:20pm
Testing finally catching up. Now India is doing 35,000 tests a day. Previously it was much less. But India is still at 4.5% positive rate which is fairly low by global and regional standards.
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Apr 20, 2020 12:21pm
It's well planned.
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Apr 20, 2020 12:22pm
Worst yet to come
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Apr 20, 2020 12:32pm
India has done great job by early lockdown which prevented spread of virus and has remained localised to few hotspots only. Eager to get back to our lives!
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Apr 20, 2020 12:42pm
Hats off to the people of India for making the world's strictest lockdown a success.
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Apr 20, 2020 12:48pm
Tip of the iceberg
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Apr 20, 2020 12:51pm
India will defeat all the viruses.
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Apr 20, 2020 12:56pm
India has also achieved 35000 tests per day. Number of recoveries also touching 350-400 per day.
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Apr 20, 2020 01:03pm
Soon Modi will announce 2 trillion dollar package as India is a super power like
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Apr 20, 2020 01:07pm
More tests are started in India/ Pakistan. With that we shall also see spike in increase in cases. What will happen if cases increased like USA& Euorape. Both countries don't have medical facilities and resources to control the epidemic. People also live in narrow localities where keeping distance it s not possible..
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Apr 20, 2020 01:11pm
Save human lives. Best wishes to all caring people.
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Apr 20, 2020 01:19pm
India has one of the world's lowest testing rates for coronavirus. Per Worldometer Index, India's vaunted healthcare system does far lower tests per 1 million population than Pakistan's.
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Apr 20, 2020 01:22pm
@Shoib Sheikh, anyway better than pakistan.
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Apr 20, 2020 01:28pm
India has a lot to pay for the deeds
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Apr 20, 2020 01:37pm
Modi has sunk India. Period.
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Apr 20, 2020 01:41pm
India is trying to hide the real facts
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Apr 20, 2020 01:55pm
India is going out of control. Especially in Mumbai and Delhi. Hunger overrides virus.
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Apr 20, 2020 01:55pm
millions will die , this is just the beginning. brace up for tough ride
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Apr 20, 2020 01:57pm
@Indian, or whoever.stop appearing in other name .this show how you feel shame for your country.
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Apr 20, 2020 01:59pm
Look @ yourself
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Apr 20, 2020 02:00pm
@Mansur Ul Haque, Both the countries means ?
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Apr 20, 2020 02:03pm
More interesting in India matter but not in development ,welfare etc since 70 yrs .
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Apr 20, 2020 02:05pm
@Indian, Modi has sunk India. Period.
It won't affect you Pakistanis. Period.
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Apr 20, 2020 02:17pm
You need brains to copy. Modi has none.
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Apr 20, 2020 02:22pm
In my view, the coronavirus figures will increase many folds all over the world, so be prepared for high fatalities. In the meantime, try to stay at home, clean your hands thoroughly, don't mingle with people in groups and save LIVES.
(Note: I regularly advocate my impartial views against injustice, inequality, oppression and nepotism without supporting any of the political parties. My family, country and people's well-being are far more important to me than anything else - be aware of fake ID's!).
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Apr 20, 2020 02:23pm
@Indian, ...says the ‘true’ Indian!
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Apr 20, 2020 02:33pm
India is bound to suffer more since sixty percent of population lives in slums.
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Apr 20, 2020 02:34pm
Worst is yet to come since 70 percent of Indian population lives in slums and close proximity is dangerous in these circumstances.
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Apr 20, 2020 02:36pm
The actual number is much higher and India might become the epicenter during monsoons.
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Apr 20, 2020 02:49pm
@Asad, and most of Muslims live slums
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Apr 20, 2020 02:53pm
@Top class, absolutely..India is doing well inspite of our population..fingers crossed
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Apr 20, 2020 03:00pm
@Asad, 17 percent in India
45 %In pakistan
Lack of education is big in Pakistan
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Apr 20, 2020 03:08pm
If the trend continues this way, India may have more than 100,000 cases by the end of June.
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Apr 20, 2020 03:08pm
@Asad, Why only 60%. Make it 110% live in slum
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Apr 20, 2020 03:09pm
@Aravind, Indian government vets virus information put out to public hence the falsified figures. Reality is much worse.
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Apr 20, 2020 03:11pm
@Vivek, 'India has also achieved 35000 tests per day. Number of recoveries also touching 350-400 per day.'
Make your false statements plausible. Poverty does not allow Indian government to test 35000 per day. Chinese kits are awaited.
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Apr 20, 2020 03:15pm
@Mansur Ul Haque, More in India which has the world's largest slum in the world.
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Apr 20, 2020 03:18pm
@Fastrack, so what bothers you?
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Apr 20, 2020 03:20pm
@Indian, You will sink too if you break the rules of lockdown.
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Apr 20, 2020 03:20pm
@Iftikhar Husain, Not like China & Pakistan.
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Apr 20, 2020 03:23pm
@Mansur Ul Haque, That's true
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Apr 20, 2020 03:24pm
@Fastrack, Modi don’t need to copy
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Apr 20, 2020 03:30pm
@Asad,
No, 25% Indian population and 45% Pakistani population lives in slums.
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Apr 20, 2020 03:32pm
Lockdown may be extended till Eid.
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Apr 20, 2020 03:46pm
@Ijaz,
Which ones?
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Apr 20, 2020 03:47pm
@Asad, In India 60% stay in villages, not slums... you won't notice the difference as your cities are worse than slums
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Apr 20, 2020 03:54pm
Now Testing has been going on rapidly, this is the reason for this surge.
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Apr 20, 2020 04:03pm
@rafiq, a true human
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Apr 20, 2020 04:17pm
@Asad, What about Pakistan ? where 90% live in slums
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Apr 20, 2020 04:18pm
@Ijaz, Look at your country first
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Apr 20, 2020 04:21pm
@Shoib Sheikht, worst yet to come. I can understand your concern as Sindh is suffering heaps.
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Apr 20, 2020 04:34pm
Due to the "Best" planning of "Modi the great"
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Apr 20, 2020 04:41pm
I guess Pakistan is the only country which doesn't have any spike in COVID-19 cases. Isn't it amazing.
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Apr 20, 2020 04:52pm
@Asad, you can be happy then.
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Apr 20, 2020 05:03pm
@Shoib Sheikh, no .. rate of recovery is high
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Apr 20, 2020 05:13pm
@Desi dimag, India 1 case of infected from 23 testing while in Pak 1 infected from 10 testing
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Apr 20, 2020 05:19pm
@Fastrack, You get personal when you don't have.
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Apr 20, 2020 05:20pm
@Shoib Sheikh, Seem to be happy.
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Apr 20, 2020 05:20pm
Real truth can't be hidden or put under the carpet for long as eventually, it will rebound and prevail with a big bang.
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Apr 20, 2020 05:26pm
@Indian,
India has one of the world's lowest testing rates for coronavirus. Per Worldometer Index, India's vaunted healthcare system does far lower tests per 1 million population than Pakistan's.
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Apr 20, 2020 05:30pm
What? Lockdown easement applied from today. You don't know the consequences in same day! You have to wait for 3-4 days to see the consequences of easing lockdown.
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Apr 20, 2020 05:51pm
23% cases in India due to one communities non compliance
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Apr 20, 2020 05:59pm
Germany 158 billion pound bill send to china for spreading carona virus
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Apr 20, 2020 06:06pm
@Indian, What does the virus has to do with Modi??
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Apr 20, 2020 06:13pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, its rapid body test started to now the exact number not like pakistan who is hiding death numbers
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Apr 20, 2020 06:26pm
@bhaRAT©, Another failed attempt.
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Apr 20, 2020 06:33pm
Modi, like Trump is tactless about the continuity of lock-downs without complete breakdown of system.
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Apr 20, 2020 06:45pm
@Shoib Sheikh, True . let's worry about the spike during Ramadan
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Apr 20, 2020 06:55pm
Stay safe all. India or Pakistan doesn't matter.
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Apr 20, 2020 06:59pm
@bhaRAT©,
The health care system of Pakistan is better than India as per you, but why did many Pakistanis are seeking treatment in India besides importing medicines from India.
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Apr 20, 2020 07:04pm
@Fastrack, IK is full of brain that's why requesting every country to waive the loan while Modi is busy with coordinating, planning and policies to reduce spread of corona.
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Apr 20, 2020 07:22pm
India is managing this crises better than any other country due to a capable leader like Modi!
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Apr 20, 2020 07:51pm
South Asian countries are in extreme dire situation, they are next coronavirus hot spots.
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Apr 20, 2020 07:55pm
@Asad, your figure went up by 10 percent in 10 seconds! What does that say about you?
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Apr 20, 2020 07:57pm
@Shoib Sheikh,
"Worst yet to come.."
Worst has already come... look inwards...
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Apr 20, 2020 08:06pm
@Top class, exactly
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Apr 20, 2020 08:08pm
@SATT, keep wishing. MF
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Apr 20, 2020 08:12pm
@Idrees Raja, Soon Modi will announce 2 trillion dollar package as India is a super power like
India has announced package more than Pakistan's total GDP.
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Apr 20, 2020 08:25pm
Now India is testing more so you expect to have more cases. The good point is you will catch the diease early and treatment will start early thus saving life.
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Apr 20, 2020 08:28pm
The number of cases in India and south Asia will be lower than the Western world because the geno type of the virus is different and less virulent. This virus strain do not produce symptoms and therefore can be carried for long time by an infected person. As a result, any sick people who will come close to the corona carrying people will be infected. In my opinion, in the subcontinent, virus will not cause havoc like other countries but will persists for a while when the rest of the world will be free of corona. This can be only handled if vaccine or drugs are discovered. DHC will not do anything.
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Apr 20, 2020 08:38pm
It's going to get much worse,probably the worst in the world but many deaths are being labeled as some other cause. That's the Modi lieing government for you.
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Apr 20, 2020 08:45pm
The government is hiding the figures. The infection rate and the death rate is much higher in India than its neighbors.
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Apr 20, 2020 08:49pm
Stop quarreling like kids and work together for the good of all the people of the subcontinent.
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Apr 20, 2020 09:26pm
India is doing an exceptional job in managing the ChineseVirus.
Hats off india and Modi.
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Apr 20, 2020 09:27pm
@Proud Indian , It is quite normal for them when they are in USA or Europe.
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Apr 20, 2020 09:27pm
I truly feel the cure will come from india. Some of the most resilient people in the world
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Apr 20, 2020 09:52pm
Expect millions of Indians to have the virus. Testing is the key.
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Apr 20, 2020 09:58pm
@Shoib Sheikh, In Pakistan. We may see it all.
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Apr 20, 2020 10:06pm
@Shoib Sheikh, Where ,? You seem to be very sure ! Are u looking forward?
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Apr 20, 2020 10:07pm
@Asad, Make up your mind, 60% or 70%?!
Whatever be these poor people, their immunity at times is much better than living in those big houses.
Do some research, Asad.
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Apr 20, 2020 10:10pm
@bhaRAT©, India has done 4 times more test. just look at data india has done 4 lakh whike pakistan has done 1 lakh tests.
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Apr 20, 2020 10:10pm
@Zak, Tell us the real number if you know. Tell us the source too.
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Apr 20, 2020 10:12pm
@Iftikhar Husain, good joke
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Apr 20, 2020 10:14pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, yes thats true as truth is coming out from your iron brother china
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Apr 20, 2020 10:52pm
@GK, Pakistani slums are far better than many Indian cities. Check yourself. Search orangi town on YouTube. Every house has a toilet while in India there is one shared toilet for every ten households.
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Apr 20, 2020 11:39pm
@Vivek, Don't know why we seem to take pride in recoveries , there is no known cure for corona virus . It all depends on one's resistance to various diseases or one's genetic immunity. Treatment involves in pumping oxygen into lungs, if that fails you have had it.
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Apr 20, 2020 11:59pm
@bhaRAT©, that is why you people apply for medical visa.
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Apr 21, 2020 12:00am
@Idrees Raja, No need to waste that kind of money, rather lose a few million Indians . That will do us good in future, we are over populated anyway. Sometimes one has to be cruel to be kind. Yes ?
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Apr 21, 2020 12:13am
@Ijaz, really? never ever feel ashamed? Feel now.
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Apr 21, 2020 12:20am
@Indian, we will pay and you don't worry and no help from you.
..
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Apr 21, 2020 12:36am
@bhaRAT©, at least india is not hiding any statics like as other neighbouring countries.
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Apr 21, 2020 12:44am
@Zak, why always you compare India with pakistani situations. Compare yourself with Bangladesh. And how many tests you are doing in 24 hours ? Any bogus idea ?
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Apr 21, 2020 01:04am
@Zak, Keep dreaming fanboy!
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Apr 21, 2020 02:15am
In a population of 1330 milllion (170000) , compare with 22(6700) million of Pakistan. .
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Apr 21, 2020 02:27am
@kp, another bakht spreading lies.
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Apr 21, 2020 02:31am
Unfortunately it's the poor who suffer irrespective which part of the world they live in.
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Apr 21, 2020 02:40am
Unseen event and untested patience! Time will tell how we fared against common enemy. But, look at this PM, who oversees 3 times more population, 30 times more languages and religious segments, 3 times bigger government size, completely surrounded by opportunistic from within and outside the party, nation and communities, still he stands tall and is most followed and most admired for his leadership. When he speaks majority population listens although he may be incorrect at times. Even if you call him the most racist and insensitive person, how many of us can fight the corruption and bureaucracy around us and rise to that top post. If you could not even become a voice in your small neighborhood and can not solve small problems in your community, how can you comment on leaders at the top, be it Modi or Imran. They are there for some reason and you (me) are not there for the very same reason.
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Apr 21, 2020 03:01am
Hopefully it's just due to more testing and it not spreading.
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Apr 21, 2020 03:23am
India imposed lock down in Kashmir 6 months ago. Today, the whole India is in locked down. They are tasting the fruits of their policies. This is just the begining, they will never be able to control the virus because its lot smarter than Indians scientists.
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Apr 21, 2020 04:15am
@kp, What a strange theory, for 1.3 billion blaming the weakest! India lacks lockdown implementation and medical infrastructure; just look at how people were jammed in trains and buses! It is just a matter of time things will spike in India unless there are strict lockdown enforcement and testing!
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Apr 21, 2020 04:56am
India is managing very well according to what we read in our local media .
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Apr 21, 2020 04:59am
@Asad,
You first said 60% then 70% Indians live in slums in your comments , please decide which % you like Indians to live in slums, can go higher if you wish, but remember India is 5th largest economy of 3.5 Trillion$.
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Apr 21, 2020 05:02am
@Zak,
You mean India is like China?
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Apr 21, 2020 05:48am
@bhaRAT©,Pakistan’s “ tests” are of Chinese origin and proven to be of dubious quality and don’t count. India’s tests are developed in India and the real deal.
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Apr 21, 2020 05:48am
With 130 crores population Hindustan cases 18500 and with 20crores population Pakistan coronavirus positive cases 9200.
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Apr 21, 2020 07:01am
India is a big country with over a billion people, most of the
people are below poverty level and lives in a crowded places
that's why COVID-19 cases are rising as people are not maintaining
social distancing at all. COVID-19 has nothing to do with religion
or worship of any community in India.
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Apr 21, 2020 07:02am
@bhaRAT©, your govt is making you fool by showing you test rate figure the fact is India done more than 400000 test compare to Pakistan’s 98000 test that mske india done 4 times more test, the rate will be always low because india’s population is much much larger than Pakistan.
So dont me fool use your own brain
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Apr 21, 2020 07:18am
@Asad, You seem to have better information about the living conditions of India! You are imagining things that is not reality!
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Apr 21, 2020 07:28am
@Theseus, I live in the heart of Mumbai, everything is under control.
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Apr 21, 2020 07:52am
@Iftikhar Husain, we are not china sorry we
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Apr 21, 2020 07:58am
Lets fight against ignorance and help the Govt save the country from this pandemic. Our fight is against ignorance and not with people from any religion. The Govt wants social distancing so people from all religions must follow that. So, get out of religious beliefs and help the country by following the law of the land.
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Apr 21, 2020 08:02am
Thanks to early lockdown, else these numbers should have really scary. Early May, curve should start flattening.
We support modi govt and will make sure Indian emerge out as even more strong nation post this crisis
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Apr 21, 2020 08:04am
Relaxation in lockdown is permitted only green zone and some orange places ,with direction that if a single corona case is reported then relaxation in that area ends. My city Bhopal is in red zone and here no relaxation is permitted.
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Apr 21, 2020 10:25am
Instead of counting the increase of Indian cases, look the increase of cases in Pakistan. Pakistan is sitting on a volcano. There is no sufficient screening or testing is going on. If the same continue, it will difficult to control, and may by pass the situation of Italy. It is a concerned for India also being close neighbour. Please take control measures and keep hardline ulemas and mullas.
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Apr 21, 2020 10:31am
India is now leading the world in coronavirus cases but the government has hidden its head under the sand.
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Apr 21, 2020 10:31am
Slum of the world! Bad news.
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Apr 21, 2020 10:33am
India is way overpopulated with extreme unhygienic conditions.
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Apr 21, 2020 10:38am
Mostly Hindu pilgrims are spreading this disease now. They are the backbone of the Modi government so no one has the courage to keep them confined to their homes. All other minorities are currently living in strict locked down and are not allowed outside their homes even to buy food. Things are really bad right now.
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Apr 21, 2020 04:39pm
@Top class, Or a crazy rise in the numbers of the infected, the more people test, the higher the numbers will get. Common sense
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